May 1998 Volume 20 Number 2

President's Letter

We're on the Oregon trail! Mark your calendars for the 1998 WAAC Annual Meeting on the slopes of Mount Hood. The dates for the meeting are October 5th through the 7th.

This year, I am pleased to announce that we have managed to get a special rate at the famous Timberline Lodge, a magnificent stone and timber hotel built during the Great Depression as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. It's one of those rare and historic places akin to the Yellowstone Lodge and the Ahwahnee Hotel, with huge, hand-hewn wood beams, massive stone fireplaces, and hand crafted iron and wood furnishings. Because it so classically represents the Cascadian architectural style, it has been designated a National Historic Landmark. You might know it from a number of Hollywood movies shot there, including "The Shining"!

The Lodge under construction		The recently restored Warming Hut

The lodge is situated at the 6,000 foot level of Mt. Hood, and is just 50 miles east of Portland International Airport. We have arranged for a package deal including room and all meals. We're not talking cafeteria food here; they have an award winning culinary staff, with several restaurants to choose from. They'll do our banquet too.

The meeting room has spectacular mountain views, with more than a glimpse of snow, even in October; the US Olympic Ski Team has used Timberline for their summer training facility. There's plenty to do like biking, hiking, swimming (I think), sauna, ping pong, shuffleboard, etc., but mainly I see it as a much needed retreat after two urban meetings, with another in the early planning stages for next year.

Prices for the package deal including room and 3 meals will be around $85-$95 per night for triple and double occupancy, but the single occupancy rate will be higher. If you don't want to go for the package deal, there are other options in the area including camping, motels and bed-and-breakfasts down the road in Government Camp (about 6 miles away). There is also an overflow hotel in Government Camp run by Timberline, with the same package deal available. That means you can choose to eat in either location. Although there should be plenty of rooms in the Lodge, reserve early to ensure a spot.

Transportation shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you don't want to rent a car or drive your own, there is a very reasonably priced shuttle available to and from the airport.

I hope you all have been thinking about any papers you would like to present (or hear presented), or any special topics you would like us to address as a group. It looks like we are going to have at least part of a day devoted to computers in conservation; this is a sort of 10 year follow-up to the first WAAC session on the use of computers. Think how far we have all come since Walter Henry told us about the internet only a few years ago at the Marconi Center! It's also not too late to suggest other mini topics or special projects for the meeting. Contact a board member if you have any ideas.